Magic in Mistletoe

This is a Hallmark Christmas Movie. It's this time of the year that I come to Hallmark to get out of the "Real World" and stick my head in the Christmas Sand.

The formula is basically the same with each film but THAT IS WHY WE WATCH THESE !!! They make us feel good at Christmas.

There are about 6 or 7 Actors that I'll watch the Christmas Movie without knowing what it is about. In particular, Paul Campbell is one. I used to look for the new Christmas Movies to watch by the current year first. Now I look by Actor's Name AND the current year hoping they've made a new one!

After last year's "THREE WISE MEN AND A BABY", he stuck out. That film is a Hallmark all-time Fave and you don't need to be a Hallmark Fan to love that one.

So when I read negative reviews, I can't help but think "why are you here?". You are getting exactly why you turn on these holiday films to begin with.

No doubt that some ARE better than others and I am a huge Hallmark Movie Fan. I watch with my cuz and we came up with our own Rating System as follows: Fair (7) Cute & Good (8), Very ROMANTIC (9), BIG Feel Good movie that makes us CRY & a Fave (10).

There have been a couple of them that I have stopped watching for 30 minutes bc they have not captured and kept my attention. We warn each other not to bother. They NEVER star one of the big Hallmark Stars.

THIS MOVIE WAS CUTE & GOOD...hardly a flop by any means.

The story is about Harrington, (Paul Campbell) a writer of bestselling Christmas fantasy novels that are based on his hometown of Mistletoe. After the death of his parents he has become a cynical recluse, he no longer believes in the magic of Christmas and views it as just a way for people to make money. He posts his feelings on social media which creates a lot of negative backlash. The timing couldn't be worse because it coincides with the release of his latest Christmas fantasy book. The publishing house sends a publicist, April (Lyndie Greenwood) to do damage control and save book sales and Harrington's career. Her plan is for Harrington to return to his hometown in order to restore his love of Christmas by showing him how much his books mean to his fans and also the town of Mistletoe. Harrington is anything but cooperative, and she threatens him with a lawsuit to make him cooperate. As April takes Harrington on a schedule of events coinciding with Mistletoe's Christmas Festival, she sees a softer side of him, and sees how the town really loves him. Harrington starts to warm up to what Christmas really means and also warms up to April too. However, several conflicts arise due to emotional memories from his past. The question is will Harrington overcome these obstacles and will his love of Christmas and trust in people be restored?

Lyndie Greenwood is a delight as the charismatic and always way too prepared April ( I'd like to see her in more Hallmark movies). Paul Campbell is perfect in the role of the the moody and cynical and wise cracking Harrington. Greenwood and Campbell have great chemistry together and the dialog is witty. The movie is a little slow paced at times, yes it's predictable, and the ending is a bit rushed. But overall, its an enjoyable and entertaining movie.

Magic In Mistletoe (2023) -

I liked the strength of Lyndie Greenwood as April, and she was witty and cool too, but I am starting to get tired of Paul Campbell as a leading man. His character of disgraced writer Harrington was a knob and took far too long to mellow or redeem himself. Perhaps Paul needs to take a different role within these films now? I've noticed his name as a screenwriter, maybe that could be his place going forward?

As the film started off I certainly thought that April would have been better off with "Harry's" best friend Chris (Oliver Rice) or even Lindsay (Amy Trefry), but I supposed that the point was for Harry to be a bit temperamental. I just felt that April deserved someone easier to deal with in the first place.

The concept of trying to rebuild someone's career after a badly thought out social media comment was very relevant in a world where cancel culture is rife and nobody ever seems to consider that maybe there was something else behind it, so I thought this look from the other side was on topic to balance the scales.

I did feel that they should have just asked Harry why he made the comment in the first place and maybe given him more of a chance to explain his sudden change of heart towards the season, perhaps pushed him to open up sooner.

And I do get annoyed when people hate on Christmas because they've lost someone. You should never do that and those that you lose would never want that. It seems like the stupidest reason to me.

Despite the fact that at the start I had been concerned by Mr. Campbell's involvement it did turn out to be quite a charming story and production in the end.

It was a mostly well put together piece and I liked the fact that they actually paid out for a decent amount of extras this time.

There was a bit too much of an obsession with Cinnamon though and I was hoping that April's final outfit/costume would have been a little bit nicer. His was definitely lame.

I wouldn't necessarily rush back to watch it again, because there are some absolute Christmas Crackers out there the deserve my time more, like have you seen 'Catch Me If You Claus' (2023) or 'To All A Good Night' (2023), but I wouldn't be annoyed if I did record it again in a few years time forgetting that I'd already seen it.

6.47/10.

After Campbell's hilarious Three Wise Men an a Baby I had high expectations on a fun quick-witted flick. The movie was unfortunately low on the comedy, higher on tropes.

The premise was slightly different than normally in Hallmark Christmas films, with the prickly novelist and the competent (and not bungling) PR person. This should've translated in more sparkly banter than there was.

Lyndie Greenwood's female lead was radiant, but Paul Campbell's character felt a bit bland in comparison: sympathetic, but not with the same energy levels. I couldn't really picture those two as a couple.

It was a pity that the novel they talked about sounded much more exciting than this movie.

I know I sound like the grinch but this is the worst hallmark Christmas movie I've ever watched...my wife and I watch alot but this guy and the leading lady would never make it in the real world...he's flat and drab in acting and is way below her pay grade...no chemistry at all. Most of these movies are around 5 with an occasional 7...maybe cause I'm a guy but I watch alot of these and this one was a bomb...if the guy could be replaced with most dudes they use it actually might have a half life...and the script of getting upset with the leading lady twice proves to me he's a turkey and she needs to find a better human being.